Distibution and Abundance of Demersal Fishes from Beam

Home , Common dragonet, Common ling, European conger, Solenette

CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE SCIENCE

SCIENCE SERIES TECHNICAL REPORT Number 120

Distribution and relative abundance of demersal ﬁshes from beam trawl surveys in the Irish Sea (ICES division VIIa) 1993-2001

M. Parker-Humphreys

LOWESTOFT 2004

1 This report should be cited as: Distribution and relative abundance of demersal fishes from beam trawl surveys in the Irish Sea (ICES Division VIIa) 1993-2001. Sci. Ser. Tech Rep., CEFAS Lowestoft, 120: 68pp.

2 CONTENTS ...... Page

1. Irish Sea Fisheries ...... 5

2. History of the survey ...... 5

3. Current survey objectives ...... 5

4. Survey methods ...... 5

5. Physical characteristics of the area ...... 10 5.1 Depth ...... 10 5.2 Circulation ...... 11 5.3 Fronts ...... 11 5.4 Temperature ...... 11 5.5 Salinity ...... 12 5.6 Sediment type ...... 12

6. Species recorded by the survey ...... 12

7. Species distributions ...... 16

8. Summary ...... 16

9. Acknowledgements ...... 16

10. References ...... 16

Species data Flatﬁsh Plaice ...... 18 Sole ...... 22 Brill ...... 26 Dab ...... 27 Flounder ...... 28 Lemon sole ...... 29 Scaldﬁsh ...... 30 Solenette ...... 31 Thickback sole ...... 32 Turbot ...... 33 Witch ...... 34

Gadoids Bib ...... 36 Cod ...... 37 Haddock ...... 38 Hake ...... 39 Norway pout ...... 40 Poor cod ...... 41 Whiting ...... 42 continued:/ 3 Elasmobranchs Greater spotted dogﬁsh ...... 44 Lesser spotted dogﬁsh ...... 45 Ray, blonde ...... 46 Ray, cuckoo ...... 47 Ray, spotted ...... 48 Ray, thornback ...... 49 Starry smoothhound ...... 50

Other ﬁsh species Anglerﬁsh ...... 52 Bullrout ...... 53 Dragonet, common ...... 54 Dragonet, reticulated ...... 55 Dragonet, spotted ...... 56 Gurnard, grey ...... 57 Gurnard, red ...... 58 Gurnard, tub ...... 59 John Dory ...... 60 Pogge ...... 61 Red mullet ...... 62 Weever, greater ...... 63 Weever, lesser ...... 64

Invertebrate species Edible crab ...... 66 Lobster ...... 67 Norway lobster ...... 68

4 1. IRISH SEA FISHERIES of the Seas) Assessment Working Groups. See www. ices.dk for more information. ICES division VIIa supports important fisheries for demersal and pelagic finfish and shellfish, and the main The CEFAS near-west groundfish survey has taken fisheries involve otter, beam and Nephrops trawlers. place every autumn since 1988, and covers the Irish Sea (ICES division VIIa), Bristol Channel (VIIf) and parts Otter trawlers target cod, haddock, whiting and plaice, of the Celtic Sea (VIIg). Equivalent spring surveys were although important by-catch species include anglerfish, also conducted between 1993 and 1998. The survey was hake, sole and skates and rays. Since the early 1980s initially designed to provide abundance indices for pre- there has been a development of semi-pelagic gear, recruit (1 and 2 year old) plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) which again targets cod, whiting and haddock. and sole (Solea solea), while also providing abundance and length data for all species caught, and age and other The beam trawl fishery in the Irish Sea involves vessels biological data for commercially important species. from Belgium, UK (England, Wales and Northern RV CORYSTES has been used for all the near-west Ireland), Ireland, Holland and France. It commenced in groundfish surveys used in this report. Due to minor the early 1960s to target sole and fishing effort peaked inconsistencies in the sampling grid before 1993, this in the late 1980s, following a period of strong year report uses data from 1993 onwards, during which time classes of sole. The effort is currently about 60% of that the position of sampling stations and tow length have peak value, and the fishery also lands plaice, rays, brill, been consistent. turbot and anglerfish. 3. CURRENT SURVEY There is also an important Nephrops fishery on the muddy grounds in the north-western Irish Sea, and this OBJECTIVES is one of the most valuable fisheries in the area. The primary objectives of the Irish Sea beam trawl survey are to (a) carry out a 4 m beam-trawl survey of Other fisheries that operate in the Irish Sea deploy groundfish to i) obtain fisheries independent data on gillnets and tangle nets, often by inshore boats the distribution and abundance of commercial flatfish targeting cod, bass, grey mullet, sole, plaice and rays. species, and ii) derive age compositions of sole and Longline fisheries targeting spurdog expanded in the plaice for use in the assessment of stock size; and (b) to 1980s, although this fishery has subsequently declined. collect biological data, including maturity and weight at There are also important fisheries for shellfish, notably age, for sole, plaice, lemon sole and other commercially scallop fisheries off the Isle of Man and pot fisheries important species. The epibenthic by-catch from for edible crab and lobster. Pelagic fisheries in the these catches has been quantified since 1997 (Ellis et Irish Sea target herring. The fisheries of the area were al., 2000), and these surveys are also used to collect described by Pawson et al. (2002). biological samples in support of other CEFAS projects and training courses. Table 1 shows the landings (all gears combined) of demersal finfish and shellfish by UK vessels landing into England and Wales. The data cover the period 1993 4. SURVEY METHODS to 2001, and cover the most commercially important The standard gear used is a 4 m beam trawl with chain species for ICES division VIIa. Boon (1992) reviewed mat, flip up rope, and a 40 mm codend liner to retain commercial landings from this area for earlier years. small fish. The gear is towed at 4 knots (over the ground) for 30 minutes, averaging 2 nautical miles per 2. HISTORY OF THE SURVEY tow. Fishing is only carried out in daylight, shooting after sunrise and hauling no later than sunset, as the Fisheries science is dependent upon accurate fisheries vertical distribution of some species is known to vary and biological data to assess the status of fish stocks. diurnally. The gear described and illustrated by Kaiser In addition to landings information and biological and Spencer (1994). data collected from commercial landings, it is also necessary to collect fishery-independent data Once on board the catch is sorted to species level, with describing the distribution and relative abundance the exception of small gobies and sandeels, which are of fishes, including juveniles, and further biological identified to genus. Species were identified according sampling of commercial species. This is achieved to Wheeler (1969) and Whitehead et al. (1986). Plaice, by conducting standardised scientific surveys of the sole, dab, and elasmobranchs are sorted by sex, all fish relevant fish stocks and areas. CEFAS conducts surveys categories weighed, and total lengths are measured around the coast of England and Wales using a variety to the nearest full centimetre below. Area-stratified of fishing gears, to collect fisheries-independent samples of selected species are sampled for weight, indices of stock abundance. These data are integrated length, sex, maturity, and otoliths or scales removed for into the stock assessments carried out under the ageing. The extent of sampling carried out by species is auspices of ICES (International Council for Exploration detailed in Table 2.

5 Table 1. Demersal and shellfish landings from all gears, by UK vessels landing into England and Wales from 1993-2001

Year 1993 1994 1995

Weight Value Price per Weight Value Price per Weight Value Price per Species (tonnes) (£1000s) kg (£/kg) (tonnes) (£1000s) kg (£/kg) (tonnes) (£1000s) kg (£/kg)

Anglerfish 148 250 1.69 77 125 1.62 85 133 1.58 Brill 53 164 3.10 53 185 3.47 57 210 3.65 Bass 8 24 3.16 33 177 5.30 31 141 4.48 Cod 837 995 1.19 483 541 1.12 527 554 1.05 Conger eel 55 31 0.56 32 27 0.84 30 25 0.83 Dab 49 14 0.28 48 16 0.32 46 15 0.33 Spurdog 1105 984 0.89 504 430 0.85 400 299 0.75 Flounder 31 4 0.13 19 4 0.20 66 16 0.25 Haddock 42 46 1.09 27 24 0.86 63 52 0.83 Hake 140 498 3.56 58 190 3.25 41 139 3.39 John dory 3 12 3.61 4 13 3.27 4 16 4.13 Lemon sole 34 77 2.29 28 62 2.21 22 55 2.51 Ling 77 53 0.70 44 33 0.74 46 34 0.74 Megrim 48 115 2.40 18 51 2.80 17 44 2.49 Red mullet 1 7 5.09 1 6 5.99 1 4 5.28 Plaice 1006 928 0.92 867 884 1.02 905 945 1.04 Saithe 55 32 0.58 23 13 0.58 22 9 0.38 Pollock 79 83 1.05 26 28 1.05 45 46 1.04 Sole 294 1377 4.68 361 1597 4.42 383 1911 4.99 Sand sole 1 2 1.80 3 6 2.08 3 6 1.96 Turbot 64 342 5.36 31 167 5.37 26 145 5.53 Whiting 551 187 0.34 284 107 0.38 481 145 0.30 Witch 12 15 1.24 3 3 1.06 6 5 0.95 Mixed demersal 32 30 0.96 17 16 0.97 12 9 0.79 Mixed gurnards 115 42 0.36 73 24 0.33 68 26 0.38 Mixed mullets 1 2 1.20 3 3 1.21 3 3 1.11 Dogfish, hounds and sharks 242 70 0.29 194 88 0.45 123 54 0.43 Skates and rays 924 858 0.93 618 616 1.00 522 509 0.98 Total demersal landings 6007 7239 3935 5437 4034 5550

Cockles 1905 457 0.24 156 31 0.20 75 22 0.29 Edible crab 30 24 0.81 9 7 0.75 80 45 0.57 Loster 37 335 8.95 32 285 8.88 26 244 9.38 Mussels 3983 692 0.17 2548 406 0.16 4309 1169 0.27 Nephrops 518 869 1.68 447 795 1.78 491 868 1.77 Queen scallops 1008 342 0.34 508 293 0.58 204 127 0.62 Scallops 121 183 1.51 342 494 1.44 280 418 1.49 Whelk 367 114 0.31 156 41 0.26 464 147 0.32 Total shellfish landings 7969 3016 4198 2352 5929 3040

6 Table 1. continued: Demersal and shellfish landings from all gears, by UK vessels landing into England and Wales from 1993-2001

Year 1996 1997 1998 Weight Value Price per Weight Value Price per Weight Value Price per Species (tonnes) (£1000s) kg (£/kg) (tonnes) (£1000s) kg (£/kg) (tonnes) (£1000s) kg (£/kg)

Anglerfish 70 114 1.62 79 115 1.46 55 94 1.71 Brill 47 205 4.33 54 214 3.99 60 225 3.79 Bass 15 75 5.12 7 34 5.03 4 24 6.14 Cod 382 389 1.02 588 643 1.09 653 786 1.20 Conger eel 44 34 0.77 49 35 0.72 75 55 0.74 Dab 62 23 0.37 57 15 0.27 37 7 0.18 Spurdog 629 494 0.79 733 530 0.72 903 672 0.74 Flounder 71 13 0.19 63 11 0.18 52 8 0.16 Haddock 84 74 0.89 144 137 0.95 185 185 1.00 Hake 32 88 2.78 73 167 2.29 35 83 2.37 John dory 0 1 3.36 1 4 4.00 1 2 2.59 Lemon sole 13 26 1.94 24 42 1.76 19 43 2.26 Ling 29 20 0.71 24 16 0.69 30 24 0.81 Megrim 6 14 2.29 5 4 0.82 4 6 1.51 Red mullet 0 1 6.09 0 2 5.15 0 1 2.32 Plaice 627 752 1.20 601 667 1.11 545 545 1.00 Saithe 11 6 0.53 25 15 0.60 17 11 0.62 Pollock 22 18 0.79 29 28 0.98 41 41 1.00 Sole 171 1014 5.93 168 1069 6.36 139 901 6.48 Sand sole 1 1 2.24 1 1 2.35 1 2 2.70 Turbot 20 115 5.92 19 109 5.57 23 119 5.29 Whiting 420 154 0.37 398 128 0.32 398 124 0.31 Witch 3 2 0.58 6 2 0.42 4 1 0.39 Mixed demersal 5 6 1.13 11 8 0.75 15 9 0.62 Mixed gurnards 83 26 0.31 93 24 0.26 70 20 0.28 Mixed mullets 2 2 1.23 2 2 1.29 0 0 1.45 Dogfish, hounds and sharks 250 102 0.41 120 56 0.47 203 102 0.50 Skates and rays 658 714 1.08 764 710 0.93 880 897 1.02 Total demersal landings 3758 4484 4136 4792 3364 3989

Cockles 154 88 0.57 732 432 0.59 606 764 1.26 Edible crab 11 11 1.03 100 101 1.01 82 96 1.17 Loster 12 131 11.08 52 436 8.44 60 504 8.39 Mussels 6480 2873 0.44 5631 2097 0.37 7723 2673 0.35 Nephrops 471 822 1.74 614 1123 1.83 378 698 1.85 Queen scallops 198 83 0.42 261 97 0.37 1073 396 0.37 Scallops 534 888 1.66 641 1125 1.75 1101 1748 1.59 Whelk 2563 1040 0.41 748 194 0.26 285 85 0.30 Total shellfish landings 10423 5936 8779 5605 11308 6964

7 Table 1. continued: Demersal and shellfish landings from all gears, by UK vessels landing into England and Wales from 1993-2001

Year 1999 2000 2001

Weight Value Price per Weight Value Price per Weight Value Price per Species (tonnes) (£1000s) kg (£/kg) (tonnes) (£1000s) kg (£/kg) (tonnes) (£1000s) kg (£/kg)

Anglerﬁsh 27 52 1.98 17 33 2.00 28 59 2.08 Brill 49 184 3.78 27 92 3.44 32 135 4.18 Bass 1 5 5.71 7 23 3.53 14 59 4.14 Cod 339 480 1.41 156 243 1.55 208 329 1.58 Conger eel 91 65 0.71 61 48 0.79 41 28 0.69 Dab 34 7 0.19 22 4 0.20 14 3 0.20 Spurdog 1139 858 0.75 730 747 1.02 777 856 1.10 Flounder 36 7 0.18 54 10 0.20 45 9 0.19 Haddock 152 198 1.30 90 112 1.25 205 295 1.44 Hake 37 82 2.22 58 92 1.59 25 58 2.36 John dory 1 3 3.15 1 2 2.14 1 3 2.86 Lemon sole 11 26 2.49 10 26 2.56 12 35 2.95 Ling 31 26 0.84 25 26 1.03 20 18 0.92 Megrim 3 5 1.63 1 2 2.82 1 1 1.79 Red mullet 0 1 4.40 3 3 1.30 1 1 2.30 Plaice 557 594 1.07 489 420 0.86 459 407 0.89 Saithe 18 16 0.90 8 5 0.62 12 7 0.57 Pollock 24 27 1.15 27 36 1.31 38 50 1.31 Sole 149 900 6.04 119 655 5.53 180 1082 6.02 Sand sole 0 1 2.67 0 1 2.74 1 3 2.87 Turbot 22 121 5.53 17 86 5.12 17 95 5.46 Whiting 247 82 0.33 116 42 0.36 90 40 0.44 Witch 4 2 0.49 2 1 0.50 3 2 0.51 Mixed demersal 27 26 0.94 3 2 0.81 2 1 0.79 Mixed gurnards 78 21 0.27 88 26 0.30 96 36 0.38 Mullets 1 2 1.29 1 1 1.12 3 4 1.31 Dogﬁsh, hounds and sharks 244 119 0.49 211 170 0.81 117 67 0.58 Skates and rays 742 738 0.99 537 588 1.10 770 852 1.11 Total demersal landings 3077 3789 2131 2741 2325 3615

Cockles 323 53 0.16 208 76 0.37 1268 367 0.29 Edible crab 76 79 1.04 102 131 1.29 141 198 1.40 Loster 27 252 9.31 67 675 10.05 57 603 10.52 Mussels 1929 477 0.25 2807 470 0.17 9714 3868 0.40 Nephrops 523 1208 2.31 464 738 1.59 514 1051 2.04 Queen scallops 476 203 0.43 1045 448 0.43 2729 1177 0.43 Scallops 1285 2407 1.87 1050 1711 1.63 955 1524 1.60 Whelk 66 17 0.25 1315 343 0.26 964 380 0.39 Total shellfish landings 4705 4696 7058 4592 16342 9168

8 Table 2. Sampling protocols for commercial and non-commercial fish and shellfish

Higher taxa Scientific name Common name Total catch Biological sample

Number Biomass Length Sex Length Weight Sex Maturity Age

Gadiformes Gadus morhua Cod    -      Melanogrammus aeglefinus Haddock    -      Merlangius merlangus Whiting    -      Merluccius merluccious Hake    -     

Lophiiformes Lophius piscatorius Monkfish    -      Lophius budegassa Black bellied angler    -     

Perciformes Dicentrarchus labrax European sea bass    -     

Pleuronectiformes Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis Megrim          Scophthalmus maximus Turbot    -      Scophthalmus rhombus Brill    -      Glyptocephalus cynoglossus Witch    -  - - - - Limanda limanda# Dab          Microstomus kitt Lemon sole    -      Pleuronectes platessa Plaice          Solea solea Sole         

Others Sharks and dogfishes     - - - - - Skates and rays+         - Other fin fish    ------

Shellfish Homarus gammarus European Lobster      - - - - Nephrops norvegicus Nephrops      - - - - Maia squinado Spiny spider crab   -  - - - - - Cancer pagurus Edible crab      - - - - Pecten maximus Scallop   ------Sepiola spp. and Rossia spp.* Cuttlefish   ------Sepia spp.* Cuttlefish   ------Octopodidae* Octopus   ------Loliginidae* Squid   ------# Biological samples taken from 2000 onwards. + Biological samples taken from 2001 onwards. * Identified to species level.

9 Figure 1. Irish Sea and St Georges's Channel, with sectors and ﬁxed sampling stations indicated

To account for possible population differences within 5. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ICES division VIIa, biological samples are taken from 4 sectors (Figure 1). These are north-eastern Irish Sea OF THE AREA (ISN), south-eastern Irish Sea (ISS), western Irish Sea (ISW) and St Georges Channel (SGC). Commercial 5.1 Depth species have length-stratified otolith targets for any The primary bathymetric feature in the Irish Sea is combination of sector, sex and depth band. the channel running north to south in the western Irish Sea and St George’s Channel (Figure 2). This channel, In all, 66 stations were consistently fished in VIIa in the which is approximately 150 m at its deepest point, period 1993–2001 (Figure 1), although the presence of creates a ‘divide’ between the western Irish Sea, where static fishing gear, etc., may have prevented the sampling there is a comparatively narrow shelf of shallow water, of certain stations in some years. Additional stations and the eastern Irish Sea, which has extensive shallow- were sampled prior to 1993, but as these stations are not water habitats. This divide may also play an important currently fished, they are excluded from this report. role for the demersal fish stocks in the area, and stocks

55° -10 -20 -30 -40

54° -50 -60 -70 -80 -90 53° -100 -110 -120 -130 -140 52° -150 7° 6° 5° 4° 3° Figure 2. Bathymetry of the Irish Sea and St George’s Channel including positions of fronts

10 in the eastern and western Irish Sea may have different front separates the cooler, tidally mixed waters of St biological characteristics (e.g. growth rates). The deep- George’s Channel from the warm surface waters of the water channel also permits several species that occur Celtic Sea, which is stratified. Seasonal fronts may also typically in the deeper waters of the Celtic Sea and occur in the eastern Irish Sea and Cardigan Bay. Frontal off North-west Scotland to live in the Irish Sea (e.g. systems, and their associated eddies and upwellings, boarfish). may result in either increased local productivity and/or concentrating of organisms, including fishes (Le Fèvre, 5.2 Circulation 1986; Durazo et al., 1998).

The main water flow into and out of the Irish Sea is 5.4 Temperature from the North Channel to the north, and St George’s Channel to the south (Figure 3), and this leads to a The main feature of the water temperature of the Irish general south-to-north flow to the west of the Isle Sea is the east-west alignment of the isotherms, with of Man. In the eastern Irish Sea the flow is more the warmest waters in the east in summer and in the complicated, with an anticlockwise gyre dominating west in winter (Figure 4). The shallowness of the off the North Wales coast. The average rate of travel eastern Irish Sea influences water temperature, which within the Irish Sea is 2½ to 3 km per day, although ranges from 16°C in summer to 6°C in winter (Figure locally this may vary considerably with tides, gales or 4). Western Irish Sea waters are kept relatively warm seasonal circulation features. by the warm water masses entering the Irish Sea from the south-west, which derive from the continuation of 5.3 Fronts the Gulf Stream driven by the North Atlantic Drift. This flow is stronger in winter, and there is thus much A front is the transitional zone between two different less variation in temperature, from 13.5°C in summer water masses and, within the Irish Sea, there are several to 9.5°C in winter. Warm weather in summer warms the seasonal frontal systems (Figure 2). The western surface layers and there is a temperature gradient to the Irish Sea front is pronounced in spring and separates cooler bottom waters, while in winter there is virtually the mixed waters to its south-east from the stratified no difference in temperature between surface and waters to its north-west. Similarly, the Celtic Sea bottom waters over most of the Irish Sea.

Figure 3. Near surface water circulation. Adapted from Lee and Ramster (1981)

11 Surface - summer Surface - winter 55° 55°

16 9.5

54° 54° 9 15.5 8.5

15 8

7.5 14.5 7 53° 53° 6.5 14

13.5 5.5

5 13 52° 52° 7° 6° 5° 4° 3° 7° 6° 5° 4° 3°

Bottom - summer Bottom - winter 55° 55°

16 10 15.5 9.5 15 9 54° 14.5 54° 8.5 14 8 13.5

13 7.5

12.5 7 53° 53° 12 6.5

11.5 6

11 5.5

10.5 5 52° 10 52° 7° 6° 5° 4° 3° 7° 6° 5° 4° 3°

Figure 4. Average near bottom and near surface temperature (1993-2001) for summer (August) and winter (January). Data supplied by ICES

5.5 Salinity the Irish Sea, there are two offshore mud grounds, one off Cumbria and a more extensive mud bank in the Saline North Atlantic water pushing up through St north-western Irish Sea (Figure 6). Such sediments are George’s Channel produces a south-to-north plume of important fishing grounds for Nephrops. The inshore higher salinity water in the western Irish Sea, while in sediments in the Irish Sea are generally composed of the east, surface run-off from the Mersey, Solway Firth sand, with coarser grounds in the deeper waters of the and other west coast estuaries maintains less saline central Irish Sea and St George’s Channel. surface waters (Figure 5). Surface waters are slightly more saline in summer owing to faster evaporation rates. Bottom waters are fairly homogeneous 6. SPECIES RECORDED BY throughout the year, with slightly higher salinities in THE SURVEY the south. More than 100 species of marine fish were recorded 5.6 Sediment type during CEFAS beam trawl surveys of the Irish Sea (Table 3). More than 170 species of marine fish have The distribution of many marine fishes is closely been recorded from within the Irish Sea, and an annotated linked to both bathymetry and sediment type. Within inventory of Irish Sea fishes is given in Ellis et al. (2002).

12 o o o o o o o o o o o o o7 6 5 4 3 2 o 7 6 5 4 3 2 55 55

o o 54 54 33 34 34 32 32 34 31 33 34

o o 53 53 34.5

34.5 Surface Surface Summer salinity Winter salinity

35 o o 52 52 o o o o o o o o o o o o 3 2 7 6 5 4 3 2 o 7 6 5 4 o 55 55

34 34

o 34 o 54 54

34.5

o o 53 34.5 53

Bottom Bottom Summer salinity Winter salinity

o o 52 52

Figure 5. Average near bottom and near surface salinity for summer and winter. Adapted from Lee and Ramster (1981)

Figure 6. Distribution of major sediment types in the Irish Sea and St George's Channel. Adapted from Mackie (1990)

13 Table 3. Species recorded by the surveys

Latin name Common name Number % abundance Weight in kg % of total weight

Limanda limanda Dab 80171 28.04 3118.879 17.40 Pleuronectes platessa European plaice 47544 16.63 4381.712 24.44 Buglossidium luteum Solenette 33420 11.69 401.795 2.24 Callionymus lyra Common dragonet 21757 7.61 869.725 4.85 Trisopterus minutus Poor cod 19889 6.96 436.320 2.43 Merlangius merlangus Whiting 12697 4.44 604.746 3.37 Solea solea Sole 12298 4.30 1546.257 8.62 Eutrigla gurnardus Grey gurnard 8646 3.02 348.032 1.94 Arnoglossus laterna Scaldfish 8297 2.90 117.313 0.65 Agonus cataphractus Pogge 6359 2.22 67.624 0.38 Echiichthys vipera Lesser weever fish 5030 1.76 110.812 0.62 Gobiidae Gobies 4571 1.60 8.513 0.05 Scyliorhinus canicula Lesser spotted dogfish 4039 1.41 2569.125 14.33 Microchirus variegatus Thickback sole 3950 1.38 111.764 0.62 Gadus morhua Cod 1499 0.52 208.354 1.16 Microstomus kitt Lemon sole 1440 0.50 173.433 0.97 Trisopterus luscus Bib 1416 0.50 81.821 0.46 Trigla lucerna Tub gurnard 1375 0.48 306.700 1.71 Trisopterus esmarki Norway pout 1214 0.42 18.418 0.10 Aspitrigla cuculus Red gurnard 1139 0.40 156.524 0.87 Raja clavata Thornback ray 946 0.33 568.279 3.17 Glyptocephalus cynoglossus Witch 913 0.32 96.703 0.54 Melanogrammus aeglefinus Haddock 820 0.29 59.897 0.33 Raja montagui Spotted ray 815 0.29 249.490 1.39 Hippoglossoides platessoides Long-rough dab 588 0.21 15.715 0.09 Ammodytidae Sandeels 565 0.20 3.411 0.02 Leucoraja naevus Cuckoo ray 513 0.18 243.396 1.36 Syngnathus acus Greater pipefish 394 0.14 6.559 0.04 Myoxocephalus scorpius Bullrout 351 0.12 36.750 0.21 Lophius piscatorius Anglerfish 350 0.12 376.019 2.10 Callionymus maculatus Spotted dragonet 265 0.09 1.988 0.01 Platichthys flesus Flounder 229 0.08 73.084 0.41 Phrynorhombus norvegius Norwegian topknot 208 0.07 2.479 0.01 Scophthalmus rhombus Brill 191 0.07 93.124 0.52 Sprattus sprattus Sprat 156 0.05 0.144 + Raja brachyura Blonde ray 154 0.05 136.825 0.76 Callionymus reticulatus Reticulate dragonet 152 0.05 0.937 0.01 Blennius ocellaris Butterfly blenny 151 0.05 3.334 0.02 Hyperoplus lanceeolatus Great sandeel 117 0.04 0.174 + Ctenolabrus rupestris Goldsinny wrasse 87 0.03 2.846 0.02 Pholis gunnellus Butter fish 83 0.03 0.749 + Syngnathidae Pipe fishes 80 0.03 0.113 + Merluccius merluccius European hake 78 0.03 24.775 0.14 Zeus faber John dory 77 0.03 15.553 0.09 Scyliorhinus stellaris Greater spotted dogfish 72 0.03 122.040 0.68 Taurulus bubalis Sea scorpion 66 0.02 4.936 0.03 Mustelus asterias Starry smooth hound 62 0.02 19.145 0.11 Syngnathus rostellatus Nilssons pipefish 58 0.02 0.054 + Crenilabrus melops Corkwing wrasse 54 0.02 1.091 0.01 Trachinus draco Greater weever fish 54 0.02 7.510 0.04 Solea lascaris Sand sole 38 0.01 5.150 0.03

14 Table 3. continued: Species recorded by the surveys

Latin name Common name Number % abundance Weight in kg % of total weight

Scophthalmus maximus Turbot 30 0.01 33.450 0.19 Mullus surmuletus Red mullet 24 0.01 1.593 0.01 Gaidropsarus vulgaris Three bearded rockling 23 0.01 4.735 0.03 Enchelyopus cimbrius Four bearded rockling 22 0.01 0.517 + Ciliata mustela Five bearded rockling 22 0.01 0.304 + Trachurus trachurus Horse mackerel 20 0.01 3.253 0.02 Ciliata septentrionalis Northern rockling 20 0.01 0.092 + Zeugopterus punctatus Topknot 20 0.01 1.284 0.01 Spondyliosoma cantharus Black seabream 17 0.01 1.058 0.01 Gobius niger Black goby 17 0.01 0.258 + Liparis liparis Sea snail 17 0.01 0.068 + Molva molva Common ling 15 0.01 7.638 0.04 Argentinidae Argentines 14 + 0.380 + Conger conger European conger eel 14 + 28.890 0.16 Belone belone Garfish 13 + 1.900 0.01 Buenia jeffreysii Jeffreys goby 13 + 0.025 + Diplecogaster bimaculata Two spotted clingfish 12 + 0.012 + Lesueurigobius friesii Fries goby 11 + 0.031 + Cepola rubescens Red bandfish 11 + 0.790 + Centrolabrus exoletus Small mouthed wrasse 11 + 0.225 + Cyclopterus lumpus Lumpsucker 10 + 0.187 + Labrus bergylta Ballan wrasse 9 + 2.010 0.01 Clupeidae Herrings 9 + 0.007 + Liparis spp Sea snails 8 + 0.013 + Phrynorhombus regius Ekstroms topknot 7 + 0.212 + Gobiesocidae Clingfishes 6 + 0.008 + Trigloporus lastoviza Streaked gurnard 6 + 1.225 0.01 Squalus acanthias Spurdog 4 + 8.330 0.05 Clupea harengus Herring 4 + 0.084 + Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis Megrim 4 + 1.493 0.01 Gasterosteus aculeatus Three spined stickleback 4 + 0.006 + Labrus mixtus Cuckoo wrasse 3 + 0.435 + Argentina sphyraena Lsr silver smelt 3 + 0.080 + Raja microocellata Painted ray 3 + 4.290 0.02 Ammodytes tobianus Sandeel 3 + 0.042 + Chirolophis ascanii Yarrells blenny 3 + 0.052 + Galeorhinus galeus Tope shark 2 + 1.180 0.01 Pollachius pollachius Pollack 2 + 6.860 0.04 Gobius paganellus Rock goby 2 + 0.010 + Mustelus mustelus Smooth hound 2 + 0.270 + Spinachia spinachia Sea stickleback 2 + 0.009 + Balistes carolinensis Trigger fish 2 + 1.460 0.01 Labridae Wrasses 2 + 0.050 + Cottidae (indet) 1 + 0.035 + Anguilla anguilla European eel 1 + 0.270 + Abramis spp Breams 1 + 0.029 + Scomber scombrus (European) mackerel 1 + 0.115 + Entelurus aequoreus Snake pipefish 1 + 0.001 + Gaidropsarus mediterraneus Shore rockling 1 + 0.002 + Micromesistius poutassou Blue whiting 1 + 0.225 +

15 7. SPECIES DISTRIBUTIONS 10. REFERENCES

This report presents the data describing catches of the BOON, M.J., 1992. Landings into England and Wales major fish and selected commercial shellfish species from the UK demersal fisheries of the Irish Sea and from ICES Division VIIa. Data cover the period 1993 Western Approaches, 1979-1990. Data Report, to 2001, during which time the position of sampling MAFF Directorate of Fisheries Research, Lowestoft, stations and tow length have been consistent. 26: 37pp.

More detailed analyses are presented for sole and DURAZO, R., HARRISON, N.M. AND HILL, A.E., 1998. plaice, owing to their commercial importance in the Seabird observations at a tidal mixing front in the Irish Irish Sea. Data for the eastern and western Irish Sea Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 47: 153-164. are treated separately for plaice and sole. This division (illustrated in Figure 1) is necessary as differences in ELLIS, J.R., ARMSTRONG, M.J, ROGERS, S.I., AND SERVICE, growth rate and other life history parameters are known M., 2002. The distribution, structure and diversity of to occur (Nash et al., 2000). fish assemblages in the Irish Sea. pp.93–114, In: Marine biodiversity in Ireland and adjacent waters (J.D.Nunn, Analyses for these plaice and sole provide: ed.). Ulster Museum, Belfast. (a) The mean numbers of fish (by age) caught per 30 min tow at core stations. ELLIS, J.R., ROGERS, S.I. AND FREEMAN, S.M., 2000. (b) The mean number of fish (all ages) caught per 30 Demersal assemblages in the Irish Sea, St George’s min tow at core stations. Channel and Bristol Channel. Estuarine and Coastal (c) The mean number of fish caught (by age) per year, Shelf Science, 51(3): 299–315. from a 30 min tow. (d) The mean catch weight of fish from a 30 min tow. KAISER, M.J. AND SPENCER, B.E., 1994. Fish scavenging (e) Length-frequency (by age) for (i) eastern and (ii) behaviour in recently trawled areas. Marine Ecology western Irish Sea. Progress Series, 112: 41-49. (f) Mean length at age for i) eastern and ii) western Irish Sea. LEE, A.J. AND RAMSTER, J.W., 1981. Atlas of the Seas (g) Mean weight at length for i) eastern, and ii) western around the British Isles. Ministry of Agriculture, Irish Sea. Fisheries and Food, Lowestoft. (h) Proportion of male and female fish mature at length for i) eastern and ii) western Irish Sea. LE FÈVRE, J., 1986. Aspects of the biology of frontal systems. Advances in Marine Biology, 23: 164-299. Information for other species is restricted to: (a) The mean number of fish caught per 30 min tow at MACKIE, A.S.Y., 1990. Offshore benthic communities core stations. of the Irish Sea. pp.169–218, In: The Irish Sea: An (b) The mean catch weight of fish from a 30 min tow. environmental review. Part One: Nature Conservation. (c) Length frequency distributions. NASH, R.D.M., WITTHAMES, P.R., PAWSON, M.G., 8. SUMMARY AND ALESWORTH, E., 2000. Regional variability in the dynamics of reproduction and growth of Irish CEFAS have conducted beam trawl surveys in ICES Sea plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L. Journal of Sea division VIIa since 1988, providing indices of abundance Research, 44: 55-64. for commercially important demersal stocks. During the course of these surveys, in excess of 100 fish species PAWSON, M.G., PICKETT, G.D. AND WALKER, P., 1995. have been recorded, and data on the length distributions The coastal fisheries of England and Wales, Part IV: and relative abundance have been collected. This report A review of their status 1999-2001. Science Series summarises the results for 1993-2001. Technical Report, CEFAS, Lowestoft, 116: 83pp.

WHEELER, A., 1969. The Fishes of the British Isles and 9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS north-west Europe. MacMillan, London. I thank Jim Ellis for ideas and comments on the report, Myrtle Boon for the text on physical properties, and WHITEHEAD, P.J.P., BAUCHOT, M.L., HUREAU, J.C., Brian Harley for supplying data. NIELSEN, J. AND TORTONESE, E., 1986. Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. I also acknowledge the help of the scientists and crew UNESCO, Paris. who participated on the relevant surveys.

16 Flatfish

17 Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa

(a)

Key DepthDepth in (m)metres

= No fish caught = 50 fish caught

= 100 fish caught

= 250 fish caught

= 500 fish caught

18 Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa

(b) Depth (m)

Key

= No fish caught = 50 fish caught

= 100 fish caught

= 500 fish caught

= 1500 fish caught

(c)

1993 1994 1995 60 60 60 50 50 50 40 40 40 30 30 30 20 20 20 10 10 10 0 0 0 01234+ 01234+ 01234+

1996 1997 1998 60 60 60 50 50 50 40 40 40 30 30 30 20 20 20 10 10 10 0 0 0 01234+ 01234+ 01234+

Average number per station Average 1999 2000 2001 60 60 60 50 50 50 40 40 40 30 30 30 20 20 20 10 10 10 0 0 0 01234+ 01234+ 01234+

Age

19 Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa

(d) 10

Average catchAverage weight station per in kg. 1

0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(e)

(i)

Age 0 Age 1 Age 2 1200 1200 1200 1000 1000 1000 800 800 800 600 600 600 400 400 400 200 200 200 0 0 0 5 1015202530354045505560 5 1015202530354045505560 5 1015202530354045505560

Age 3 Age 4+ 1200 1200 1000 1000 Numbers of fish 800 800 600 600 400 400 200 200 0 0 5 1015202530354045505560 5 1015202530354045505560 Total length (cm)

(ii)

Age 0 Age 1 Age 2 2000 2000 2000

1500 1500 1500

1000 1000 1000

500 500 500

0 0 0 5 1015202530354045505560 5 1015202530354045505560 5 1015202530354045505560

Age 3 Age 4+ 2000 2000 Numbers of fish

1500 1500

1000 1000

500 500

0 0 5 1015202530354045505560 5 1015202530354045505560

Total length (cm)

20 Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa Male Age Total Length (cm) Total length (cm) length Total Female (ii) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 (ii) (ii) 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 5 1015202530354045505560 1 0 0 3 2 1 0

0.5

50 40 30 20 10

0.75 0.25

Total length (cm) length Total Proportion Mature Proportion Weight in kg in Weight Male Age Total Length (cm) Fem ale Total lengthTotal (cm) (i) (i) (i) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 5 1015202530354045505560 3 2 1 0 1 0

0.5

50 40 30 20 10

g Weight in k in Weight 0.75 0.25 Total length (cm) length Total Proportion Mature Proportion (g) (h) (f)

21 Sole - Solea solea

(a)

Key Depth Depth Depthin inmetres metres (m)

= No fish caught

= 10 fish caught

= 50 fish caught

= 100 fish caught

22 Sole - Solea solea

(b) Depth (m)

Key Depth in metres

= No fish caught

= 50 fish caught

= 250 fish caught

= 750 fish caught

= 1500 fish caught

(c)

1993 1994 1995 20 20 20

15 15 15

10 10 10

5 5 5

0 0 0 01234+ 01234+ 01234+

1996 1997 1998 20 20 20

15 15 15

10 10 10

5 5 5

0 0 0 01234+ 01234+ 01234+

Average number per station Average 1999 2000 2001 20 20 20

15 15 15

10 10 10

5 5 5

0 0 0 01234+ 01234+ 01234+

Age

23 Sole - Solea solea

(d) 4

3.5

2.5

1.5

Average catchAverage weight station per in kg. 0.5

0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(e) (i)

Age 0 Age 1 Age 2 1200 1200 1200 1000 1000 1000 800 800 800 600 600 600 400 400 400 200 200 200 0 0 0 5 10152025303540 5 10152025303540 5 10152025303540

Age 3 Age 4+ 1200 1200 1000 1000 Numbers of fish 800 800 600 600 400 400 200 200 0 0 5 10152025303540 5 10152025303540

Total length (cm)

(ii)

Age 0 Age 1 Age 2 20 20 20

15 15 15

10 10 10

5 5 5

0 0 0 5 10152025303540 5 10152025303540 5 10152025303540

Age 3 Age 4+ 20 20 Numbers of fish 15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0 5 10152025303540 5 10152025303540

Total length (cm)

24 Sole - Solea solea Female Age Total Length (cm) Length Total Male Total length (cm) length Total (ii) (ii) (ii) 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 01234567891011121314151617181920 5 1015202530354045 1 0 0 1 0

0.5

0.75 0.25 50 40 30 20 10 e 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 Matur Proportion

Total length (cm) length Total Weight in kg in Weight Female Age Male Total Length (cm) Total Total length (cm) length Total (i) (i) (i) 01234567891011121314151617181920 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 5 1015202530354045 1 0 1 0 0

0.5

50 40 30 20 10

0.75 0.25 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 Total length (cm) length Total Proportion Mature Proportion Weight in kg in Weight (g) (h) (f)

25 Brill - Scophthalmus rhombus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 3 fish caught

(b) 0.3

0.2

0.1 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

Numbers of fish of Numbers 5

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Total length (cm)

26 Dab - Limanda limanda

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 1400 fish caught

(b)

Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

8000

6000

4000 Numbers of fish of Numbers 2000

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Total length (cm)

27 Flounder - Platichthys flesus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 11 fish caught

(b) 0.3

0.2

0.1 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

10 Numbers of fish of Numbers 5

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Total length (cm)

28 Lemon sole - Microstomus kitt

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 50 fish caught

(b) 0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1 Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average Average catch weight station in kg. per Average 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

150

100

Numbers of fish of Numbers 50

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Total length (cm)

29 Scaldfish - Arnoglossus laterna

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 60 fish caught

(b) 0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

1500

1000

Numbers of fish of Numbers 500

0 0 5 10 15 Total length (cm)

30 Solenette - Buglossidium luteum

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 700 fish caught

(b) 1.00

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

6000

4000

Numbers of fish of Numbers 2000

0 051015 Total length (cm)

31 Thickback sole - Microchirus variegatus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 125 fish caught

(b)

0.30

0.20

0.10

0.00 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

600

400

Numbers of fish of Numbers 200

0 0 5 10 15 20 Total length (cm)

32 Turbot - Scophthalmus maximus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 1 fish caught

(b) 0.15

0.10

0.05 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average

Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

2 Numbers of fish of Numbers 1

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 Total length (cm)

33 Witch - Glyptocephalus cynoglossus

(a) 55°

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught 54° = 60 fish caught

53°

52° 7° 6° 5° 4° 3°

(b) 0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 (c)

100

40 Numbers of fish of Numbers 20

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Total length (cm)

34 Gadoids

35 Bib - Trisopterus luscus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 20 fish caught

(b) 0.30

0.20

0.10 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

200

150

100 Numbers of fish of Numbers 50

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Total length (cm)

36 Cod - Gadus morhua

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 12 fish caught

(b)

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

Average catch weight per station in kg per catchAverage weight 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

200

150

100 Numbers of fish of Numbers 50

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 Total length (cm)

37 Haddock - Melanogrammus aeglefinus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 30 fish caught

(b) 0.20

0.10 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

150

100

Numbers of fish of Numbers 50

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 Total length (cm)

38 Hake - Merluccius merluccius

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 1 fish caught

(b) 0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Numbers of fish of Numbers 2

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 Total length (cm)

39 Norway pout - Trisopterus esmarki

(a) Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 50 fish caught

(b)

0.20

0.10

Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.00 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

500

400

300

200

Numbers of fish of Numbers 100

0 0 5 10 15 20 Total length (cm)

40 Poor cod - Trisopterus minutus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 200 fish caught

(b) 1.5

1.0

0.5 Average catch weight per station in kg per catchAverage weight

0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000 Numbers of fish of Numbers

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 Total length (cm)

41 Whiting - Merlangius merlangus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 200 fish caught

(b)

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

Average catch weight per station in kg per catchAverage weight 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

1500

1000

Numbers of fish of Numbers 500

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Total length (cm)

42 Elasmobranchs

43 Greater spotted dogfish - Scyliorhinus stellaris

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 3 fish caught

(b) 0.050

0.040

0.030

0.020

0.010 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.000 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

Numbers of fish 1

0 0 102030405060708090100110 Total length (cm)

44 Lesser spotted dogfish - Scyliorhinus canicula

(a)

Depth (m)

+ == NoNo fishfish caughtcaught

== 3535 fishfish caughtcaught

(b) 8.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

300

200

100 Numbers of fish of Numbers

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 Total length (cm)

45 Ray, blonde - Raja brachyura

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 15 fish caught

(b) 0.50

0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

4 Numbers of fish of Numbers 2

0 0 102030405060708090100 Total length (cm)

46 Ray, cuckoo - Leucoraja naevus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 15 fish caught

(b)

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

10 Numbers of fish of Numbers 5

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 Total length (cm)

47 Ray, spotted - Raja montagui

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 30 fish caught

(b) 0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

20 Numbers of fish of Numbers

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 Total length (cm)

48 Ray, thornback - Raja clavata

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 30 fish caught

(b)

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

20 Numbers of fish of Numbers 10

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Total length (cm)

49 Starry smoothhound - Mustelus asterias

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 3 fish caught

(b) 0.0080

0.0060

0.0040

0.0020 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.0000 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

2 Numbers of fish of Numbers 1

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Total length (cm)

50 Other fish species

51 Anglerfish - Lophius piscatorius

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 3 fish caught

(b) 1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Numbers of fish of Numbers 5

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Total length (cm)

52 Bullrout - Myoxocephalus scorpius

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 20 fish caught

(b) 0.020

0.015

0.010

0.005 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.000 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

20 Numbers of fish of Numbers 10

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Total length (cm)

53 Dragonet, common - Callionymus lyra

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 150 fish caught

(b) 2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

2000

1000 Numbers of fish of Numbers

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Total length (cm)

54 Dragonet, reticulated - Callionymus reticulatus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 2 fish caught

(b)

0.0006

0.0004

0.0002 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average 0.0000

Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

20 Numbers of fish of Numbers

0 0510 Total length (cm)

55 Dragonet, spotted - Callionymus maculatus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 13 fish caught

(b) 0.0010

0.0008

0.0006

0.0004

0.0002 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.0000 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Numbers of fish of Numbers 20

0 0510 Total length (cm)

56 Gurnard, grey - Eutrigla gurnardus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 80 fish caught

(b) 1.2

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

800

600

400 Numbers of fish of Numbers 200

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Total length (cm)

57 Gurnard, red - Aspitrigla cuculus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 30 fish caught

(b) 0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

150

100

50 Numbers of fish of Numbers

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Total length (cm)

58 Gurnard, tub - Trigla lucerna

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 12 fish caught

(b)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

250

200

150

100 Numbers of fish of Numbers 50

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Total length (cm)

59 John Dory - Zeus faber

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 3 fish caught

(b) 0.15

0.10

0.05 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

Numbers of fish of Numbers 2

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Total length (cm)

60 Pogge - Agonus cataphractus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 40 fish caught

(b) 0.30

0.20

0.10 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

(c)

2000

1500

1000

Numbers of fish of Numbers 500

0 0 5 10 15 Total length (cm)

61 Red mullet - Mullus surmuletus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 1 fish caught

(b) 0.0010

0.0008

0.0006

0.0004

4 Numbers of fish of Numbers 2

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Total length (cm)

62 Weever, greater - Trachinus draco

(a)

Depth (m)

++ = No fish caught

= 3 fish caught

(b) 0.004

0.003

0.002

0.001 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average (c) 0.000 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

2 Numbers of fish of Numbers

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Total length (cm)

63 Weever, lesser - Echiichthys vipera

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = No fish caught

= 145 fish caught

(b) 0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

1500

1000

Numbers of fish of Numbers 500

0 0 5 10 15 Total length (cm)

64 Invertebrate species

65 Edible crab - Cancer pagurus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = None caught

= 20 caught

(b) 3.0

2.0

1.0 Average catch weight per station in kg. per catchAverage weight 0.0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

120

80 Numbers

Numbers of fish of Numbers 40

0 0 5 10 15 20 Total length (cm)

66 Lobster - Homarus gammarus

(a) u

Depth (m)

+ = None caught u

= 0.5 caught

u u u u u u

(b) 0.06

0.04

0.02 Average weight per station in kg. per weight Average

Average catch weight per station in kg. catch weight per station Average 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Numbers 2 Numbers of fish of Numbers

0 0510 Total length (cm)

67 Norway lobster - Nephrops norvegicus

(a)

Depth (m)

+ = None caught

= 350 caught

(b) 0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10 Average catch weight per staion in kg. per catch Average weight 0.00 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

1200

800 Numbers

Numbers of fish of Numbers 400

0 012345 Total length (cm)